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07818 938699
Buck & Co Jewellers,
Goldsmiths & Diamond Mounters
Crafted with Excellence
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May Birthstone:
Emerald
For those people lucky enough to be born in May their birthstone is the beautiful emerald. Emerald (beryllium aluminum silicate) is part of the Beryl family of gemstones, and is related to the blue aquamarine and the gorgeous golden yellow heliodor. Emerald is the most precious stone out of all its relatives, prized for its incomparable green colour caused by the trace presence of chromium and/or vanadium.
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Famously loved in antiquity by Cleopatra (who had emerald mines in Egypt), the emerald was believed to sharpen the memory and wits, to give the gift of foresight, reveal the truth and protect again evil spells. The green was believed to be soothing to tired eyes, and to protect against malaria and cholera.
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Emerald is rarely flawless and inclusions are an accepted part of a beautiful natural stone, and are sometimes referred to as the 'jardin' (garden) of the stone, encouraging you to look into its depths and enjoy the uniqueness of each stone. Emeralds grow in prismatic hexagonal crystals in areas of tectonic activity including locations such as Columbia, India, Zimbabwe and Siberia.
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Gemstone care is paramount with this stone as it is brittle and can easily fracture. The octagonal 'emerald cut' (without corners) was devised for this stone to help prevent damage from accidental knocks and bumps. Avoid chemicals, solvents and detergents, and never put in an ultrasonic cleaner! Not only are emeralds prone to breakage in an ultrasonic due to the vibrations, but the chemicals can adversely effect treatments that the stone may have received.
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Pictured is a selection of beautiful emeralds available in our shop in Bodmin, including a 1.00ct Zambian emerald as selected by our Gemmologist and set into an 18ct gold ring by our own in-house Goldsmith. Drop in for a viewing at our shop in Bodmin or pm for more details.
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A Hexagonal Emerald Crystal
A selection of Emerald Jewellery available at Buck & Co, Bodmin, Cornwall.
Elizabeth Taylor's famous Bulgari emerald and diamond jewellery, a gift from Richard Burton whilst they were filming Cleopatra (photo credit @crownjewels).
A very special commission piece which left us recently is this stunning 18ct yellow gold and opal ring.
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From the initial design meeting this piece was a deeply personal mission for our client, who requested an opal piece of jewellery but was unsure of what type or design.
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We decided to start with the selection of the gemstone and build the rest of the design around it, step by step. Our client had a viewing session with our Gemmologist featuring a range of fabulous opals in different shapes and sizes. The stone that sparked the inspiration in the heart of our client is this stunning 5.99ct round cabochon opal, which vividly displays a vibrant play of colour with all the colours of the rainbow.
We then discussed the options of different coloured precious metals, and how these different colours would impact on the colour of the opal. Leaning towards a warmer colour pallet, our client selected 18ct yellow gold, and selected this sumptuous and classically inspired design from a selection painted for her by our Goldsmith.
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The final design was then handcrafted for her at our shop in Bodmin by our Goldsmith, and completed with full UK hallmarks including his personal Buck & Co Sponsors Mark.
Our client was fully involved in every stage of the creation of this beautiful piece, and the end result is a deeply personal and unique bespoke ring with great personal resonance for our lovely client.
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The original diamond solitaire ring and diamond studs, Buck & Co, Bodmin.
The new platinum settings in-situ before diamond mounting.
New platinum settings made by our Goldsmith, Buck & Co Bodmin.
The original diamond solitaire ring and diamond studs, Buck & Co, Bodmin.
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Buck & Co Jewellers is a family-owned business with over 40 years of experience in the jewellery industry. We offer a wide range of services including bespoke designs, repairs and insurance valuations. We are a husband and wife team consisting of a qualified and experienced Jeweller, Diamond Mounter, Gold and Silversmith, and a certified Gemmologist. We take pride in crafting each piece of jewellery with excellence, ensuring that it meets our high standards of quality.
At Buck & Co Jewellers, we offer a personalised service, where your work is carried out in our fully insured workshop located in The Market House Arcade in Bodmin, a Grade II listed building. We have options to suit all budgets and tastes, and offer free consultations to discuss your desired commission work.
